Only Takes Minute For Car Thieves

In seconds, the man shattered the glass, and with graceful precision, dived through the window Thursday and landed behind the wheel without tripping the alarm.

After he popped the hood, his accomplice snipped the wire in time to hear only the first peep of the alarm before it was rendered inactive. Next, he swiftly sawed the steering wheel to remove its anti-theft device, started the engine and drove away in the 1987 Oldsmobile 88.

It took just a minute for Terrence Williams and Jim Rackelin to commit their mock crime.

"After two minutes, if we can't get it, we're gone," said Williams, one of the men who volunteered to demonstrate auto theft as part of a state public awareness campaign focusing on a property crime that cost consumers $327 million last year.

He and Rackelin were recruited to participate in the exercise because of their background. As owner of Emergency Lock and Safe Inc., in Oak Lawn, Rackelin has legitimately broken into cars on the job. Williams works as a mechanic with Greater Chicago Auto Auction in Alsip.

The two never met before, but were teamed up Thursday morning in Alsip for the Park Smart demonstration sponsored by the Illinois Anti-Car Theft (I-ACT) Committee, a 2-year-old agency made up of local law-enforcement officials, insurance industry executives and community groups.

I-ACT is funded by insurance companies throughout the state that contribute $1 for each private comprehensive vehicle policy they write each year. The Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act in 1990 requires the contribution as a source of funding for the Illinois Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Council that was created to develop strategies for combating auto theft, which grew 67 percent in the last 25 years.

Of the tips that are offered to motorists, Denny Meyer, director of South Suburban Auto Theft Interdiction Network, said, "First, take away the temptation" by keeping valuables out of sight to prevent opportunists. Always lock the door and keep the windows rolled up is another simple advisory that needs repeating, he said. And besides parking in well-lit areas and locking doors, a visual or physical deterrent, such as an anti-theft lock or alarm, is also recommended.

Rackelin conceded that his attempt to "steal" a second car during the demonstration was foiled by a deadbolt hood lock, starter cut-off system and a separate ignition cut-off system. "The lock is going to slow thieves down and make them go somewhere else," he said. But no lock is unbeatable, given time, he said.

"Thieves are opportunists. They're going to take the path of least resistance," said I-ACT director Chuck Doerr.

"Most people become aware of car thefts when you or somebody you know becomes a victim," said Bob Cozza, who has had a heightened sense of awareness since his prized 1968 Chevelle Super Sport 396 was stolen 23 years ago. "I never got over it," said Cozza, who now owns All Guard Auto Alarm in Alsip.

The car was found three days later completely stripped of its parts, a fate suffered by one-third of the reported vehicles stolen, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The parts are more valuable sold separately and can earn two to four times the price of the vehicle's cost, according to the crime bureau data.

As a vehicle ages, its parts increase in value, say experts. Therefore, older cars are targeted.

Nearly 40,000 vehicles were reported stolen last year in Chicago, said Meyer. Statewide the count is 68,042, placing Illinois in fifth place nationwide in the number of cars stolen yearly.

Since the task force was established, $5.5 million worth of stolen vehicles or parts have been recovered, said Meyer.